Unexpected structures discovered above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

Jupiter, the fascinating gas giant of our solar system, continues to reveal its secrets. Long considered a planet with a relatively peaceful upper atmosphere, it is now revealed to be the scene of intriguing and dynamic activity. Thanks to recent observations made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have discovered complex structures and unexpected phenomena above this mythical planet.

Strange patterns in Jupiter’s atmosphere

Jupiter’s upper atmosphere has long been largely neglected in research, even though it contains unsuspected variety and richness. Contrary to previous predictions, which described it as uniform and unremarkable beyond the polar auroras, recent observations have indeed revealed astonishing phenomena. One of the most striking discoveries was made above the famous Great Red Spota gigantic storm that exceeds the size of Earth. More precisely, images captured by the telescope James Webb Several weeks ago revealed dark arcs and bright spotsvisible mainly in infrared, above this Jovian mega-storm. These structures are not simply due to sunlight, but originate in the deep, turbulent layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere. Scientists speculate that these patterns could be the result of atmospheric wave activity on the planet, a phenomenon occasionally observed on Earth. Henrik Melin of the University of Leicester explains: ” One way to disrupt this structure is through gravitational waves, similar to waves that crash onto a beach, creating ripples in the sand. These waves originate in the turbulent depths of the lower atmosphere around the Great Red Spot and can propagate upward, altering the structure and emissions of the upper atmosphere.” .

An infrared image of the whole of Jupiter and a zoomed-in version of the Great Red Spot. Credits: ESA/Webb, NASA and CSA, Jupiter ERS team, J. Schmidt, H. Melin, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)

Implications and future of research

This discovery revolutionizes our understanding of Jupiter as a dynamic planetary system. The observed gravity waves, although also present on Earth, manifest themselves here in a much more intense and visible way, directly influencing the planet’s upper atmosphere. These results therefore open new avenues of research to understand not only the Jupiter atmospheric dynamicsbut also to explore the interactions between the deep and superficial layers of its complex composition. More broadly, these observations are a significant step forward in the study of giant planets and their turbulent atmospheres. Next steps include in-depth analysis of the data collected by the James Webb telescope, as well as preparation for future missions such as the European Space Agency’s JUICE. This mission will explore Jupiter and its icy moons, providing new opportunities to observe and understand the complex atmospheric phenomena of this mysterious planet. Details of the study are published in Nature Astronomy.